Community Flays Oil Firms Over Violation Of Local Content Act

Worried by the continuous flouting of the Local Content Act by oil companies operating in their community, the people of Iwhrekan in Ughelli South Local Government area of Delta State have tasked both the state and Federal Government to intervene as they said they are now ready to fight the perceived injustice by all means possible.

President General of the community, Mr. Judge Dukpan, made the observation in his inaugural speech on the occasion of swearing-in of the newly elected Executive Committee at Iwhrenkan.

Djukpan noted that several youths of Iwhrekan, particularly graduates who are eminently qualified to work in the oil companies operating on their land are being denied job opportunities at the Otorogun Gas Plant located in their community.

He said since Shell handed over operations of the plant to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) last year, no graduate in the community has been employed as a staff in the mass employment by the establishment. He therefore, appealed to the Delta State government to wade into the matter and ensure that what is due the host community gets to his people.

“Since 1989 creation of this gas plant in our community, no indigene graduate has been employed. When the plant was being commissioned by General Ibrahim Babangida, he assured that we would get direct electricity supply from the gas plant. Up till this moment, that also has not been done,” he said.

“So I want to make it as a duty to ensure that most of our graduates are employed. The first thing I am going to do is talk with the State Government and NPDC and let them know our pains,” Djukpan stressed.